Emmanuel Adegboye

Emmanuel is the Managing Partner of Utopia Lagos and is leading Utopia’s emerging efforts across Africa. Utopia is an urban innovation group that aims to build the urban ecosystem for emerging cities and their slums across Asia, Africa and Latin America. They’re doing this by establishing a network of CITYLabs (urban innovation labs) to build and back urban solutions that make the city better for the many, not just the few. Emmanuel designed and led Andela’s Entrepreneurship Center and was tasked with designing and managing programmes to equip Andela engineers with entrepreneurial skills and to support those who plan to launch companies or join startups with opportunities that position them for success in an entrepreneurial career. He also held project and programme management roles in support of talent development at Andela, a company that builds high-performing engineering teams by investing in Africa’s most talented software developers. Prior to joining Andela, He worked at Venture Garden Group where he successfully oversaw a number of projects centred around innovation and entrepreneurship including consulting for Nigeria’s Office of the Vice-President on the design and implementation of innovation hubs across the country, leading to a $3 million investment by the World Bank and redesigning Venture Garden Group’s early stage accelerator programme (now GreenHouse Lab). He was also responsible for managing the delivery of a million dollar grant-funded programme to develop multiple technology platforms to support all Federal Government Social Intervention Programmes in Nigeria. He is a certified Project Management Professional with several years of experience managing diverse programs, projects and developing systems for operational effectiveness. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics, postgraduate degrees in Space Applications and Environmental Management and a Certificate in Disciplined Entrepreneurship from MIT amongst other qualifications. He is the curator for TEDxYaba (an independently organised TED event), a Village Capital Communities Africa Programme Alumnus and a 2019 Skoll World Forum Fellow. He enjoys mentoring startups and serves as a mentor for the Google Launchpad Africa Accelerator programme. He also serves as a judge for the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Space Applications